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OAKDALE – Joe McGrath has been a longtime staple in the Steves Chevrolet Buick Service and Parts Department.

The service manager has been at the Oakdale dealership at 1285 E. F Street for 30 years.

“It’s rare for someone in his position to be in one place for that long. But Joe shares the same philosophy (of the dealership) – Service is the key,” owner Jeff Steves said on Tuesday.

Along with taking care of new and used cars regardless of the make and model, the service department here has the state-of-the-arts equipment to do most any job coupled with the resources to get parts delivered in a timely manner.

Jeff Van Ryn, who has been with Steves for the past 11 years, said the turnaround is usually within 24 hours.

McGrath has seen drastic changes in the service industry over the years.

“We’ve gone from carburetors going out of style (on engines) to computer-controlled and the evolution of the fuel injection,” he said.

Gone are the days of the do-it-yourself weekend mechanic, working on the front driveway on one of the newest cars. “Nearly everything (on the engine) today is controlled by computers,” said McGrath, who over the years has enjoyed the comrade with his staff and customers.

“We’re all part of one big family,” he added.

His technicians are factory trained and Automotive Service Excellence certified.

The philosophy “service is key” was started by Jeff Steves’ father Frank, who founded the dealership in 1974.

The service department is located behind the showroom. But don’t be misled, Jeff Steves said.

“In our business (the service department) is front and center,” he added.

Steves Chevrolet understands the importance of fixing it right the first time when it comes to automotive needs. “We will jump to every hoop to get the job done,” he said.

For those not satisfied, Jeff Steves, under his open-door policy, will welcome these customers to stop by his office. “We will do what we can to rectify the problem,” he said.

At Steves Chevrolet, service is also what helped this business survive the recent downturn economy.

“We know that all of our sales people are knowledgeable when it comes to cars,” Jeff Steves said. “But without the backing and support of the service department, it’s tough.

“You need someone that you can trust.”

For more information, call Steves Chevrolet at (209) 322-4599 or log on to www.steveschevroletbuick.com.